Inspirational spaces

Situated behind the kitchen, the lower level bathroom is equally suited to cleaning up before a meal or taking a leisurely bath. Crisp white fixtures, including a Kaldewei Centro Duo bath, ensure that the bathroom feels as light and airy as the rest of the house.

British artist Hannah Sawtell and technologist Avi Flombaum created sawbaum.com, where users can create visual collages using multiple vine streams. "We wanted it to look like a visual comic book, with overlapping panels," said Flombaum. "And we wanted it to be fun!" Photo courtesy Rhizome.

The toilet must always be odor-free and look pleasing, be silent not offending any of our senses, can be a tall order.

Twisty columns

Custom-designed back-painted glass in the kitchen backsplash brings the blue-gray tones of the water inside, while Caesarstone Black Raven countertops provide a stark contrast. Bulthaup appliances update the kitchen's functionality.

In the kitchen, the same materials and shapes are echoed, including the custom barstools that surround the kitchen island—which bare resemblance to the seating options he designed for the living room.

The original kitchen was designed by the Booths, and Robert renovated it in 2000, making it ergonomic for his wife Sirkka's shorter frame.

An open floor plan with uninterrupted views from the front to the back of the home provides a stark transformation from the original “boxy” floor plan. Designed to cater to university events as well as day-to-day routines of the home’s residents, Meade notes that the first floor was designed so that “only one room can close itself off in order to create visual and physical openess. If you are hosting events, you can have everyone in a single space, but still have them in different “spaces.”

Currently the home and design editor at Departures, Dan Rubinstein lives in New York City. He penned the cover story for this issue, featuring Nicolas Roche’s kaleidoscopic Parisian home. “Roche’s apartment truly encapsulates the virtues of any design lover: rare and bizarre vintage finds, shots of quirk and color, and some good old-fashioned problem-solving. I remain utterly fascinated with his Bond-style, mega-groovy bed of unknown origin.” Favorite piece of furniture: His Vegetal chair from Vitra in black. “I’m a big fan of using outdoor furniture indoors when appropriate.”

Kitchen

Picture window looks onto a porch with a nice view of the yard. Sun sets directly into the window view.

Casual meals are eaten at the kitchen’s glacier white Corian countertop, which features Aalto K65 stools. The island’s Blanco sinks offer a direct, uninterrupted sightline to the garden.

2007 Office Pets.

Church of the Unity, by H.H. Richardson, 1869. Springfield, Massachusetts.